Real de Catorce
 Real de Catorce is an old mining town in the heart of the Sierra de Catorce in the State of San Luis Potosí.
It’s founding dates from 1779 and was due to the discovery of rich silver mines, which motivated a number of miners and adventurers to come to the place in search of fortune. A real metal fever began at this site even under the most unfavorable conditions.
In its early times no authority existed that really took care of the respect of the law, anarchy was sovereign. Silvestre López Portillo, born in Gautemala and descending from spaniards officially founded the town which was called: Real de Minas de Nuestra Señora de la Limpia Concepción de Guadalupe de los Álamos de Catorce.
 At that time, the silver extraction made México one of the main producers and Exporters. When the revolutionary war began in 1910 the mining activities stopped and the mines were flooded. Mexican politics were unstable for several years, and that situation made the investments decrease.
 Since the mines stopped working, the image of San Francisco de Asís that is at the church became venerated by the old miners and their families that had to leave the place searching for new opportunities. The saint became famous and began to be called “Panchito” nickname for Francisco or “Charrito”. The image became very popular and miraculous and the tradition of pilgrimage started. Every year, the 4th october, the saint’s day, thousands of faithful believers visit the church to thank him and to make offerings. The tradition still exist today for a period of 20 days during which the tunnel is closed to let thousands of people walking in the streets to visit San Francisco sitting in an altar at the church.
There is another important event taking place. The Huichol pilgrimage that is realized in extreme discretion in the flatlands west of the town. The Huichol make their ceremonies and collect peyote and then they walk up to the Cerro Quemado to make sacred offerings to their gods. |
